
Tyra Banks recently made headlines for her return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway, nearly two decades after her retirement from the lingerie brand's annual catwalk. The 50-year-old supermodel and entertainment mogul's reappearance was an emotional and empowering moment, celebrating her growth journey and changing relationship with her body and food. Banks has been open about her weight gain, reflecting on how her body has changed since her modelling days, with a weight fluctuation of around 30-50 pounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Weight Gain | 25-50 pounds |
| Diet | Doesn't believe in diets, doesn't count calories |
| Body Image | Has been "too thin or too big", felt like her body "was not hers" |
| Self-Image | Felt like a "vessel" for empowerment, more connected to herself |
| Food Choices | Enjoys snacks, fast food, and indulgent dinners; has her own ice cream brand |
| Social Media | Open about her weight gain on TikTok and Instagram |
| Career | Returned to Victoria's Secret Fashion Show after nearly two decades |
| Age | 50 years old |
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What You'll Learn

Tyra Banks' weight gain confession
Tyra Banks has been open about her weight gain and changing relationship with food over the years. In 2024, she made headlines for her return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway nearly two decades after leaving the brand. During her appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," the 50-year-old supermodel and multi-business mogul reflected on her weight gain and how it impacted her runway experience.
Banks shared that she felt a deeper connection to her walk this time around. She said, "When I was a model, I was walking for myself, and I retired almost 20 years ago. But when I was walking on the Victoria's Secret runway this time, I felt like everybody was inside of me." She continued, "50-year-old women, insecure women—I just felt like there was more."
Banks also acknowledged the physical changes in her body, specifically noting that her breasts were "like 10 times bigger" due to her weight gain. She humorously added, "So I was like, 'Don't fall out, don't fall out.'" Banks' weight gain confession was met with a mix of reactions, with some praising her empowerment and others criticising her past behaviour towards contestants regarding weight on "America's Next Top Model".
Banks has previously discussed her weight fluctuations, stating that she has been "too thin or too big" and felt like she was "betraying people if [she] lost weight." In 2020, she told Harper's BAZAAR that she was 25 pounds heavier than when she appeared on the cover of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Banks doesn't believe in diets, calling them "a bunch of bologna" in a 2009 statement. Instead, she focuses on feeling her best and enjoying her favourite foods, including her own brand of ice cream, SMiZE & DREAM.
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Her return to the Victoria's Secret runway
Tyra Banks made a triumphant return to the Victoria's Secret runway in 2024, nearly two decades after her retirement from the lingerie brand's annual catwalk. The iconic supermodel and entertainment mogul closed the show, delivering an emotional and empowering moment that celebrated her journey and growth since stepping away from modelling in 2005.
Banks' return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was highly anticipated, marking the event's comeback after a six-year hiatus. At 50 years old, Banks proved that she still had the wings and the power to soar, serving as a vessel of empowerment for women everywhere. She reflected on her comeback during an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," where she discussed her feelings of deep connection to the moment.
Banks' journey back to the runway was not just about her weight gain, but also about her evolving relationship with her body and her journey towards self-acceptance. She acknowledged that her body had changed since her early modelling days, and she embraced these changes with confidence and radiance. Banks' openness about her weight gain and body image resonated with many, as she continued to challenge societal norms and inspire women to embrace their true selves.
The lead-up to Banks' runway return was a flurry of excitement and preparation. Backstage, a team of beauty professionals, including makeup artists, hairstylists, and nail technicians, came together to ensure the models looked their best. Banks, a self-proclaimed non-believer in diets, focused on feeling her best rather than counting calories. Her snack-filled days and indulgent dinners reflected her belief in enjoying food without restriction.
Banks' return to the Victoria's Secret runway was more than just a fashion moment; it was a testament to her enduring impact on the industry and her ability to redefine beauty standards. Her presence on the catwalk, nearly 20 years after her retirement, challenged the notion of age limits in modelling and empowered women of all ages to embrace their beauty. Banks' journey back to the runway served as a reminder that confidence and self-love shine brightest.
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Banks' thoughts on dieting
Tyra Banks has been open about her weight gain and her thoughts on dieting. In 2020, she revealed that she was 25 pounds heavier than when she appeared on the cover of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has also stated that she doesn't "believe in diets", calling them a bunch of bologna in a 2009 statement. Instead of focusing on weight loss, Banks prioritises feeling her best and listening to her body.
Banks has shared that her relationship with food has evolved over the years. She starts her mornings with black coffee, using vanilla or caramel-flavoured beans, and is also a fan of matcha. For lunch, she often opts for snacks due to her busy schedule, keeping a dedicated ""snack box" in her office stocked with natural licorice, bean chips, corn chips, and cauliflower puffs. She also enjoys cashews, saying that they are "so rich and tasty". When she has time to sit down for lunch, she likes to visit local diners or do a fast-food burger taste test.
Banks has her own ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM, and is a self-proclaimed ice cream lover. She also has a go-to snack of candied bacon, made by coating bacon in Sriracha, maple syrup, and black pepper, and baking it until it caramelises. For dinner, she enjoys doing taste tests of different restaurants' versions of the same dish with her son, often trying hamburgers and Mexican food.
Banks has reflected on her weight loss journey, sharing that she once lost weight and became too thin for her liking. She has also mentioned that she used to feel like her body was not her own and that she has faced criticism for her weight in the past. However, she refuses to let her career be defined by her weight, achieving success at various points in her life regardless of her size.
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Her relationship with food
Tyra Banks has had a complicated relationship with food and body image. In 2020, she told Harper's BAZAAR that she was 25 pounds heavier than when she appeared on the cover of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has also spoken about previously feeling like her body was not her own and that she was betraying people if she lost weight.
Banks has been open about her evolving relationship with food. She told People in 2018 that her perspective on her body has changed over the years. Instead of dieting and restricting her food intake, she focuses on feeling her best. In a 2009 statement, she said, "I have been on diets in the past. They are a bunch of bologna. It's not about being skinny. It's about being in the best shape you can be."
Banks has also shared some of her eating habits, including starting her day with black coffee, often using vanilla- or caramel-flavored beans, and sometimes opting for matcha. For lunch, she usually grabs snacks on the go due to her busy schedule, but when she has time, she enjoys dining at local diners. She also likes to compare burgers from different fast-food restaurants. Banks keeps a "snack box" at her office filled with various healthy snacks, including natural licorice, bean chips, corn chips, cauliflower puffs, and cashews, her favorite.
When it comes to dinner, Banks likes to indulge. She often does taste tests of the same dish from different restaurants with her son, trying out hamburgers and Mexican food. As the founder of her own ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM, she also enjoys frozen treats. One of her go-to snacks is candied bacon, made by coating bacon in Sriracha and maple syrup, topping it with black pepper, and baking it until it caramelizes.
Banks's return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2024 after nearly two decades sparked conversations about her weight gain. She reflected on her journey, acknowledging her weight gain and celebrating confidence and growth since retiring from modelling in 2005. She told Drew Barrymore that she felt like everyone was inside of her during her runway walk, and Barrymore complimented her on radiating self-assurance and living in the moment.
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Banks' body image evolution
Tyra Banks has always been open about her body image and how it has changed over the years. In 2020, she revealed that she was 25 pounds heavier than when she appeared on the cover of the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has also stated that she has been "too thin or too big" in the past and that she used to feel like she was "betraying people" if she lost weight.
Banks has never believed in diets, calling them "a bunch of bologna" in a 2009 statement. Instead, she focuses on feeling her best and listening to her body. She starts her day with black coffee, usually opting for vanilla- or caramel-flavored beans, and is also a fan of matcha. For lunch, she often grabs snacks on the go, such as natural licorice, bean chips, corn chips, and cauliflower puffs. She also loves cashews, calling them "rich and tasty" in an Instagram post.
Banks has also been open about her love of indulgent foods, such as burgers and Mexican food. She even has her own ice cream brand, SMiZE & DREAM. In a Harper's BAZAAR video, she shared her go-to snack: candied bacon made by coating bacon in Sriracha, maple syrup, and black pepper, then baking it until it caramelizes.
In October 2024, Banks made headlines for her return to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway nearly two decades after retiring from modelling. During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," the 50-year-old supermodel and entertainment mogul discussed her weight gain since her Victoria's Secret days, stating that she was about 40-50 pounds heavier. She also reflected on how her perspective had shifted due to her changing body, feeling like she was walking for "50-year-old women, insecure women" and that she felt "everybody was inside of her".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tyra Banks has gained a lot of weight since her Victoria's Secret heyday. She reflected on her weight gain and her changing body image during her comeback to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2024.
Tyra Banks has reportedly gained between 25 and 50 pounds. She made a candid confession about her weight gain on *The Drew Barrymore Show*, where she discussed her changing body and how it affected her runway walk.
Tyra Banks' weight gain has been received with a mix of reactions. While some have applauded her honesty and empowerment, others have criticised her for past behaviour as a judge on *America's Next Top Model*, where she has been accused of fat-shaming and perpetuating body image issues.
Tyra Banks has had a complex relationship with her weight and body image. She has been open about her past struggles with dieting and feeling like her body was not hers. However, she now focuses on feeling her best rather than dieting or counting calories. She has embraced her changing body and felt empowered during her return to the runway.











































